Combination shoe flexor and stretcher



July 24, 1928. 1,678,394

w. J. KAPPEL COMBINATION SHOE FLEXOR AND STRETCHER Filed 21.16.1927 f .7' a fp Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENToFFIcEg WILLIAM J. KAPPEL, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO SAX AND ISADORE SAX, COPARTNERS DOING BUSINESS AS SAX BROS.,` DE MILWAUKEE,

COMBINATION si-ron rLEXoR AND srnnfrcnnn.

.Application lcd September 1G,v 1927." Serial No. 219,931.

This invention relates to a combination shoe llexor and stretcher.

Objects ot'vthis invention are to provide a novel form of shoe stretcher and tlexor which is so constructed that it may be employed to stretch a shoe, flex the counter or flex or stretch any desired portion, andV which is so made that itmay belocked in position with the shoe lett thereon so that the shoe ymay be held in a stretched condition for any desired length ottime.

Further objects are to provide an adjustable member adapted to be inserted within the toe ot' the shoe and to receive either a small or large toe, such member being readily detachable from the main portion ol the apparatus without requiring auxiliary tools or other means. f

A further object is to provide a second adjustable member which may be moved inwardly or outwardly to accommodate shoes of dili'erent lengths. j

In general, this invention is an improvement over that disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,424,166, of August 1, 1922, for shoe counter fleXor.

`An embodiment ot' the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the device;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the toe receiv ing portion detached from the remainder of the machine;

Figure 3 is a sectional view 8 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 4; i

Figure 6 is a section through the main pivot pin and adjacent portions of the machine; i

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 77 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the machine is provided with a standard 1 equipped with a flange 2 adapted for attachment to any suitable support, such as a table top 3. The standardl continues upwardly and thereafter bends forwardly to provide a projecting arm 4. It is also provided with an upper arm or lip 5 which receives the toe engaging member 6. The arm 5, it is to be noted, is provided with a headed and shouldered screw 7 as indin on the line cated in Figure 1.r The toe receiving portion 6 is shown most clearly in Figure 2, from which it ywill be seen that it is provided with a slot 8 adapted to interlock with the screw 7.1and the slot is provided with an enlarged opening 9 adapted to receive thefhead of the screw. Thistoe receiving portion is provided with rounded ends, the end 10 being relatively small and adapted for engagement with the small sized shoe, and the end 11 being relatively large `for a medium or large sized shoe.

A hand lever 12 is pivoted by means of the pivot pin or bolt 13 to the standard and it is preferable to form the hand lever 12 with an opening 14 through which the standard 1 passes, as shown in Figure 6. This gives avery secure pivotal support and permits the device to be freely used with any desired degree of pressure without any dan-A ger of breaking at the pivot point. The hand lever 12\.is provided at one end with a handle and is also provided with a serrated or notched lower edge 15 (see Figure 1). This notched edge cooperates with a pin 16 carried by a sliding member 17 which straddles the hand lever, as shown in Figuresy 1 and 4. The member 17 is provided with an upwardly andy rearwardly projecting bulged or rounded heel engaging member 18. This member may be made convex on its rear side and concave on its front side, as indicated in Figure 5. It is apparent that the member 17 may be slipped forward ly or rearwardly upon the hand lever and when in engagement with the shoe will rock, as shown in Figure 1, causing the pin 16 to lock with reference to the notched edge 15 ot" the hand lever. It is apparent that the member'l may be quickly adjusted along the hand lever when the pressure is released in order to accommodate any sized shoe.

It is to be noted also that the hand lever is provided with a serrated or notched lower edge 19 on its under side in front of they pivotal bolt or pin 13. This notched edge is adapted to cooperate with a swinging latch 2O or prop so that the hand lever may be locked in adjusted position, as shown in Figure 1, to retain the shoeunder tension for any desired length of time. It is to be noted also from reference to Figures 1 and 7, that the forward ends of the hand lever" and of the arm 4 of thestandard may he used for stretching any portion of the shoe by suitably forcing the hand lever in a counter clock-Wise direction. Under these `conditions, a second flap or prop 2.1 may coopcrate with the notched edge l5 to lock the hand lever in position.

Further, it is to be noted from Figures l and 7 that the device may be nsed for flexing the counter or any other portion of the shoe desired. as in my above noted patent. The forward end oi the hand lever 12 is provided with a pair of arms 12 (see Figure 7) which cooperate With the centrally positioned arm 4 of the standard. The counter may be inserted between these arms and the hand lever pressed downwardly in a clock-Wise direction to flex the counter, as in m'y above noted patent.

It will be seen that a very simple and highlyA effective type of shoe stretching and flexing machine has been provided which may be readily adjustedto accommodate any type of shoe, and which is easy to operate. Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as the invention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim:

A `combined shoe Hexing and stretching device comprising a standard having a forwardly projecting arm and having an upper spaced arm, a toe engaging portion carried by said upper arm7 a hand-lever pivoted to the standard, an adjustably mounted heel engaging portion carried by said hand-lever, said hand-lever having a handle at one end and having a pair of spaced arms adjacent its other end positioned in proximity to the irst mentioned arm of said standard, and means for locking said hand-lever in any desired position.

Inv testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin.

VVLLIAM J. KAPPEL. 

